Traction device



Jan. 13, 1953 Filed May 26, 1952 J. M. WESTRATE TRACTION DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

3 J. M. WESTRATE 2,625,194,

' TRACTION nmvxca Filed May 26, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN M. WIJTAflTf Jan. 13, 1953 J w s -r 2,625,194

TRACTIQN DEVICE Filed May 26, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3' Patented Jan. 13, 1953 U N I TED S I T OFF'I CE "$625,194 TRACTION DEVICE John'M.'Westrazte, Pleasant Ridge, Mich.

Application May 26, 1952, Serial No. 289,994

lti fllaims. :1 "This invention relates to traction devices, in particular it relates to a quick attaching "and detaching Vc'leat particiilarly suitable 'fo automobile wheels.

Traction cleats, lugsfand chains have been employedfheretoiore to augment the traction of a wheel, however, the several devices or 'the'prior art have not proven entirely satisfactory inasmuch as they are complicated indesign and construction, expensive to manufacture, difiicult lto anti-skid element which is simple in design and construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to mount and dismount, and rwhich-has-structural aspects which eliminate the attaching means from being damaged in use and/or the wheel being damaged.

An object-of the invention is to provide a traction cleat'which vcan Joe easily and economically manufactured as by casting, forgingand stamping as the component parts are-easily made and the assembly of the parts readily accomplished.

An dbject of the invention is to provide a traction cleat which is easily mountable and .dismoun'tahle on a wheel from a position on the'outside of the wheel.

An object of ltheinventionis to provide a traction 'cleat which has an anchor arm adapted to c'o-act with an aperture .or the so-called chains'lotof a disc wheel for attaching the cleat to the wheel assembly.

An object of the invention is to provide a traction cleat which does not require the applica'tor placing his hands in the area of the tread or'inthe area loehind the wheel.

An object of the invention is to provide a C- shaped traction cleat adapted to lie across the tread of a tire and adapted to partially extend radially inwardly from a tire tread-area partially over a the side wall area on eitherhsi'de thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide an anchor link or her having one end initially .inser'table in the chain apertures of a wheel which is subsequently inextricably lockable therein.

An object of the invention is to provide an anchor link or bar which is pivotally connected toithe traction cleat.

An object of the invention is to provide an anchor link which has a rounded .wheelattaching neck and end soth'at the link can twist in the wheel aperture without damage.

An object "of the invention is to provide ahoss onfthe traction 'c'leat and a "lb'OSS on the "anchor link which co-act "together to prohibit th'etraction clealt from detachably pivoting relative to the ancho link to Inaintainthe "traction "c'le'at locked inflposition.

An object of the invention :is"to"provide a dog which is manually movable from engagin relationship'with theothe'r dogsoa's to permit pivoting 'or hinging the traction 'cleat'relative to the anchorstrip .for mounting and dismountin'g the device relativeto'a wheel.

Anobject of the invention is to so 'm'ount'the movable dog so that the centrifugal force "generated by the wheel in turning tends to'urg'e the movable dog into locking engagement or relationship w-ith theother dog.

An object of theinvention Iis tolprovi-de .a movable dog which co-acts with centrifugal .Iorrce generated'by a turning wheel to urge the movable dogintolockingiposition.

An object of the inventionis to provide a projection upon the-anchor link which extends eutwardly beyond pivotal connection between the anchor strap and the traction lcleat so that a movable dog pivotally mounted-on the projection is-integrated-in triangulatingrelationshiprelative to .the anchor .lin-k and traction pleat LSO that outward pivotal movement oi the traction .cleat relative to the ia1'10-h01 map is prevented any :a movable :dog in its triangulating disposition so as "to tend to Ifcrce the dog into engagement.

1m a'obiect of "the invention isto provide-a projecticn on the anchor link-so to place the movable dog pivot point thatit located in aplane outside or beyond the pivotaleonn'ection between the anchor link and the traction cleat so that in inward movementof the anchor link relative to the traction --cleat, the pivotal connection "of the movalole dog does not moveout of triangulating relationship relative to the anchor linkand tractionclealt.

An obj ect offthe invention-is'to'provide'apivotal connection between the traction 'clea't and the anchor which, when mounted} is 'freeto pivot inwardly and prohibited ifromipivoting outwardly.

"Anohject "or the invention i's'to provide amcvable dog which looks automatically upon locating the device in the proper mounted relationship on-a whe'e'l.

These and othe objects of the invention will become apparent reference to the sfollo win description fo'fan easily mounta'hle, dismountable, and lockabletraction cleat'enibodying the inventhe curve of the tire side wall under load bearing conditions. I

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the device in cocked relationship for attaching and detach-.

ing the device relative to a wheel.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pivotal or hinge connection between the traction cleat and anchor link taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational viewof the device cocked inwardly such as for shipping and storage.

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 6 taken on the line 1-'l thereof showing the pivotal connection between the movable dog and anchor link projection.

Fig. 8 is a face elevational view of a wheel having four inventive devices disposed thereon.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device in load bearing relationship to the wheel and tire.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 9 taken on the line l0--l 0 thereof.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 9 taken on the line i l-l I thereof.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 9 taken on the line l2--I2 thereof.

Fig. 13 is a perspective'view of the C-shaped cleat portion showing a modification, including paired cross arms having paired chains disposed therebetween.

Fig. 14 is a partial side elevational view of a modified movable dog; and

Fig. 15 is a face elevational view of Fig. 13 taken on the line I4l4 thereof.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the auxiliary traction device disclosed therein to illustrate the invention comprises a C-shaped traction cleat having a surface engaging lug portion 2| adapted to lie crosswise of a tire tread 50, an inside arm 22 adapted to extend radially inwardly from the lug portion 2| to a point on the side wall 5| of a tire past the apex 52 of the curve in the side wall 5! and preferably formed with a sharply inwardly extending end 22A for clamping to the tire when under load as hereinafter more fully explained, and an exterior radially inwardly extending arm 23 adapted to terminate relative to the outside side wall 53 of a tire adjacent the apex 54 of the curve therein, an anchor link or bar 24 pivotally mounted as at 25 with the cleat 20 and having a sharply angulated end 26 adapted to lie in the wheel aperture 55 and to bearagainst and interlock with the wheel rim 56 and wheel disc 51. The anchor link or bar 24 is provided with a projection 21 which extends outwardly beyond the pivotal connection 25 so as to triangulate the movable dog 28 pivotally mounted thereon as at 29 relative to the anchor link or bar 24 and the cleat arm 23 and a fixed dog 30 on the cleat arm 23 adapted to engage the movable dog- 4 tain the attaching end 26 of the anchor bar 24 in looking relationship relative to the wheel rim 56 and the wheel disc 51 which arrangement is advantageously aifected by centrifugal force generated by a turning wheel upon which the device is mounted.

In a modified locking arrangement, Figs. 14 and 15, the dog 28A is pivotally mounted directly on the link 24 and is so integrated that the locking relationship between the dogs 28A and 30 is advantageously aifected by centrifugal force.

To remove the inventive device from the wheel assembly 60 as seen in Fig. 1, the user presses the top lever portion 3| of the movable dog 28 inwardly against the locking link 24 thereby moving the dog portion 28 on the opposite side of the pivot 29 out of engagement with the fixed dog 30, Fig. 2, thereby permitting the cleat portion 20 to pivot at 25 so that the cleat portion 20 can be swung out of engagement and gripping relationship with the tire. The locking end 26 of the anchor bar 24 is then removed out of the wheel aperture 55 as seen in Fig. 4. In the device of Figs. 14 and 15 the dog 28A is pivoted at 29A out of engagement with the dog 30.

To mount the inventive device on a wheel assembly the user cocks the anchor link 24 and cleat 20 backwardly as seen in Fig. 4 with the dogs 28 or 28A and 30 out of engagement; he then inserts the locking end 26 of the anchor link 24 in the wheel aperture 55 and moves the device so cocked down on the wheel so as to place the bottom end 32 of the anchor link 24 against the side wall 6| of the tire such as seen in Fig. 2; he then swings the traction cleat 20 on the pivot 25 relative to the anchor link 24 from the position seen in Fig. 4 through the position seen in Fig. 2 to the position seen in Fig. 1 whereupon the spring 33 automatically moves the dog 28 in engaging relationship with the dog 30. In the device of Figs. 14 and 15 the user manually engages the dogs 28A and 30.

The pivotal connection 25 is preferably a strong hinge connection as seen in Fig. 5 secured by a forged rivet 34; the pivotal connection 29 between the movable dog 28 and the projection 27 is preferably a strong hinge connection, such as seen in Fig. 7, secured by a strong rivet 35. Obviously, as many inventive devices can be mounted on the wheel assembly 66 as desired such as seen in Fig. 8' wherein four auxiliary traction devices are mounted locked in the four available wheel apertures 55. The device can be collapsed with the anchor link 24 inside the traction cleat 20 as seen in Fig. 6'to facilitate packaging, shipping,

' and storage.

Figs. 13 and 14 show a modified movable dog 28A pivotally mounted as at 29A directly on the anchor strap 24 movable into and out of engaging relationship with the fixed dog 30 on the traction cleat 26. It is to be noted that a spring washer 36 is disposed between the movable dog 28A and the anchor arm 24 so that the movable dog 28A is spring pressed in adjusted position to prevent inadvertent disengagement between the dog 28A and the dog 30. A detent, not shown, is preferably disposed between the parts to assist maintaining the locked relationship.

It is to be particularly noted that the centrifu gal force generated by the rotation of the wheel assembly 60 when equipped with the inventive.

device tends to urge the dogs 28 and 28A radially outwardly, and, therefore, into engagement with the dog 36. It is also to be particularly noted that centrifugal force generated by rotation of the;

wheel assemblytttends to urge the-dogs 28 and 28A; axially inwardly below the pivotpoint 29 so as to position the dogs 28 and 28A in engaging relationship with the dog 30.

Fig. 13 illustrates a desirable modification in the invention wherein the traction cleat MIA-is equipped with paired ai' rns '31, 33,, 39, and 4'0 on the traction cleat arms 22A and 23A so that paired chains M and 32 can be dis osed between the arms 7 and 138 respectively and the paired arms 3-9-a'i1d 46 respectively. The lug portion 21 and 21A is preferably equipped with tire tread engaging studs 43 to eliminate slipping between the tire tread '50 and the lug portion 21 so 'as to aid in maintaining the device in adjusted osrtion relative to the wheel. I

Fig. 2 illustrates modified tread engaging elements Man-(1st which are ribs -triang-ulating the juncture of'th'e arms Z2 and 23 respectively tidth the lug portion 21 and are adapted to 'fi't in the side serrations of the tread 59-.

Referring to Fig. "(Lit is to be noted that a rubher band '46 is tensioned around the anchor link 24 and movable'dog '2-8 urging them together so as to project thedo'gs in engaged relationship. This feature is illustrated due to the fact that spring steel, such as in the spring 33 and spring washer 36, i'scondu'cive to rusting so that the springs will eventually break. I Obviously, the modified dog 28A of Figs. 14 and '15 c'ah'also be located by use era rubber band in the event of deterioration in the spring washer 36 by running the rubber-band down from the anchor link 24 over the dog 28A and lower end of the anchor link 24. The substitution of a rubber band 46 for the spring 33 does not detract from the automatic locking aspects of the spring Zpressed dog 28.

use} "gs.9, 10,-and -11,-when the traction lug portion is disposed between the pivot point of the wheel and the ground, the area of the tire at this point is expanded sidewise and narrowed radially. The sidewise expansion of the tire causes the side walls and tread area to overlap the arms 22 and 23 and lug portion 21 respectively so that they are in pressure engagement and interlocking relationship with the tire. Due to the fact the radial extent to the tire is narrowed, the distance between the wheel aperture 55 and the peripheral extent to the tread 50A is shortened, as seen in Fig. 9 over that seen in Fig. 1, and this shortening of distance is absorbed by the inventive device by the anchor arm 24 pivoting inwardly at the pivot point 25 and sliding inwardly of the wheel through the aperture 55 thereby relieving both the wheel and the inventive device from breaking and bending forces which otherwise would be thrust against the disc 51 of the wheel and against the inventive device in the area of the end 26 on the anchor arm 24. This is a very important element of the invention. It is obvious, of course, that upon the inventive device moving out from below the center of the pivot point of the wheel the" tire will assume its normal inflated configuration and the end 26 will again engage the wheel disc 51 to secure the device of the wheel as it rotates over the top of the axle.

The inventive traction device with the described features constitutes a compact, durable, neat, and fool-proof mechanism easily operated to attach and detach from the wheel and resiliently coordinated to cooperate with tire dimensional change under the load of the vehicle upon various surfaces. The device is inherently capable of preventing injury to itself and to the wheel to which it is attached.

6. Although but a single embodiment of the-in vention has been shown and described in detail with only a few modifications, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, detail, and arrangements of the various elements of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

-I claim:

1. A device for augmenting the surface gi' i'pp i'ng' characteristics of *a vehicle tire comprising a c shaped traction cleat adapted to lie across the tread of a tire and adapted to-extend radially inwardly from a tire tread area partially over a tire side wall area on either 's-ide'of a tire, a first dog on said cleatadjacent the outer end thereof, arrancher link having one end initially insertable in an aperture of a vehicle wheel and subsequently inextricably ceckea the'rein and having the other'end thereof pivotally connected to said cleat, and a second "dog on said link adapted to engage said first dog on said cleat to prevent said cleat and said link from pivoting outwardly thereby holding the device locked on a wheel.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1, said link being capable of inward'pivoting relative to said cleat without interference by said dogs to allow the device'to deform under a-load which causes a tire to deform reducing the radial extent be tween the tire tread "andth-e wheel aperture.

3. In a device as set forth in "claim "1, said anchor link being adapted to be freely slidable inwardly of a wheel to permit pivoting of said anchor link at said cleat to permit said cleat moving radially inwardly of a wheelunder loads.

4. In a device as set forth in claim 1, one of said dogs being manually disenga'gea-ble with the other said dog to permit said device being mounted and dismounted relative to a tire and wheel.

5. In a device as set forth in claim 1, an inside arm on said cleat adapted to extend past the apex of a tire side wall curvature and to fit a tire snugly radially inwardly of the curvature so as to grip a tire side wall to assist in securing the device on a tire.

6. In a device as set forth in claim 1, paired cross-bars having paired ends mounted on the arms of said C-cleat and skid chains between the paired ends of said .bars adapted to lie across the tread of a tire.

7. In a device as set forth in claim 1, said second dog 'being movably mounted on said anchor link for optionally engaging and disengaging said first dog for respectively locking said device on a, wheel and for mounting and dismounting said device on and from a wheel.

8. In a device as set forth in claim 1, the device being so integrated that centrifugal force generated by the turning of a wheel tending to throw said cleat from the tire i resisted by said link directly relative to the axial outside portion of said cleat and resisted by said link via said dogs relative to the axial inside portion of said cleat.

9. In a device as set forth in claim 1, a spring biasing said second dog into engagement with said first dog.

10. In a device as set forth in claim 1, a projection on said anchor link extending sidewise outwardly of the pivotal connection between said anchor link and said cleat and an arm pivotally mounted on said projection at a point sidewise outwardly of the pivotal connection between anchor link and said cleat supporting said second dog in engageable and disengageable relation to said first dog for respectively locking said device on a wheel and for mounting and dismounting said device on and from a wheel.

11. In a device as set forth in claim 10, centrifugal force generated by the turning of a wheel tending to throw said cleat from a tire is resisted by said link directly relative to the axial outside portion of said cleat and resisted by said link via said dogs relative to the axial inside portion of said cleat.

12. A device for supplementing the surface gripping characteristics of a vehicle tire comprising a traction cleat adapted to wrap around the tread area of a tire and the tireside wall areas adjacent thereof, and adapted to grip the tire when lying adjacent thereto, an anchor link pivotally connected to the outer end of said cleat, an upturned end on said link adapted to lock in a wheel aperture when said link lies adjacent a tire and adapted to be extractable therefrom when said link is not adjacent a tire, said cleat being wrappable around said tire after said anchor link is locked by pivoting said cleat relative to said link; a first dog on said cleat adjacent said link, and a second dog on said link adjacent said cleat adapted to selectively engage and disengage said first dog to respectively prevent said cleat from removably pivoting outwardly to lock the device on a wheel and to allow said cleat pivoting outwardly to permit removal of the device from a wheel.

13. In a device as set forth in claim 12, said second dog being pivotally mounted radially inwardly of said first dog so that centrifugal force generated by revolving a wheel upon which the device is mounted tends to throw said second dog into engaging position relative to said first dog.

14. In a device as set forth in claim 12, said anchor link being freely inwardly pivotally disposed so that said anchor link can move inwardly and downwardly relative to said cleat as said cleat moves upwardly under load conditions.

15. A device for augmenting the surface gripping characteristics of a vehicle tire comprising a C-shaped traction cleat adapted to lie across the tread of a tire and adapted to extend radially inwardly from a tire tread area partially over a tire side wall area on either side of a tire, a first projection on said cleat adjacent the outer end thereof, an anchor link having one end pivotally connected to said cleat and the other end adapted to engage a wheel portion on the radial inside thereof, and a second projection on said link adapted to engage said first projection on said cleat to prevent said link and cleat from pivoting outwardly relative to one another to hold the device on a wheel; one said projection being adapted to be disengageable with the other said projection to permit mounting and dismounting the device on a wheel.

16. In a device as set forth in claim 15, said link and cleat being free to pivot inwardly relative to one another when mounted on a wheel to permit said cleat moving inwardly relative to said link when the tire tread moves radially inwardly under loads.

JOHN M. WESTRATE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,467,654 Boje Apr. 19, 1949 2,505,711 Hughes Apr. 25, 1950 2,507,090 Brown May 9, 1950 

